Relationships November 21, 2016
When was the last time you successful drank eight glasses of water a day? For many, it’s difficult to keep refilling a water bottle throughout the day. Others guzzle water from a half gallon jug, trying desperately to reach that daily quota. But is that the only way your body can stay hydrated?
To put it simply: nope! Here are ENTITY’s top five hydrating foods and drinks – and we promise there are no water bottles in sight!
Initially you might think that the only nutritional benefit of milk is calcium. After all, how many times have you been told that drinking milk helps build strong bones? This creamy beverage is actually much more versatile than you probably imagined. In fact, fat-free and whole milk both boast a higher hydration index than water, according to a recent British study.
Why is milk so effective at hydration? When you drink more water, you take more visits to the ladies’ room. With milk, this isn’t the case. “When beverages contain nutrients and electrolytes like sodium and potassium, as milk does, the stomach empties more slowly with a less dramatic effect on the kidneys,” according to Amby Burfoot from The New York Times.
This is also why milk, especially fat-free or skim, can be great for recovery post-workout. Maybe your mom wasn’t crazy after all for making you drink milk every day as a kid!
So you don’t want to drink just water, but you still want something refreshing to sip on during the day. What’s a girl to do? Join the trend of experimenting with teas, juices and smoothies, of course!
You can “upgrade” boring water by mixing in your favorite tea. Clinical Nutritionist Marlena Torres even suggests making your own sugar-free lemonade by adding lemon juice and stevia to warm water.
If you want an even more hydrating morning beverage, try jumping on the juicing train. The alkaline ingredients found in green vegetable juices can help remove toxins from the cells. What’s great about that? It means the cells are more open to receiving nutrients – and hydration.
READ MORE: How to Sneak More Healthy Veggies Into Your Diet
For those with a sweet tooth, smoothies are probably an even better choice. Try to combine a bunch of your favorite fruits and vegetables that are high in water content (like the superstar ingredients highlighted in the next points) for the most hydrating results.
Cucumbers may never land on the top of your grocery list. However, if you’re trying to reach your daily hydration goals, you need to buy cucumbers ASAP. Because cucumbers are 96 percent water, they’re one of the most hydrating veggies you can get your hands on. It doesn’t hurt that the vitamins and minerals in cucumbers – including potassium, magnesium and vitamin K, C, B5 and A – make them more nutritious than water.
Cucumbers also offer plenty of bonus benefits for any man or woman. They have been shown to fight inflammation, aid digestion (thank you, fiber!) and are even used in a variety of skin care treatments (whether for sunburns or skin tightening). Who would have thought cucumbers were actually superfoods?
You can also enjoy plenty of sweets in your hydrating routine … as long as it’s natural sugar, that is. But which fruits are best? If you see a fruit basket, reach for these treats in particular.
Watermelon: Watermelon contains 91.5 percent water and one of the richest foods in lycopene, a cancer-fighting antioxidant. Eating for your health has never tasted so … juicy.
Star fruit: Star fruit is 91.4 percent water and, for women who love exotic cuisine, this tropical fruit comes in sweet and tart varieties.
READ MORE: Is It Better to Buy or Grow Your Own Spices?
Strawberries: This fruit is 91 percent water. These berries are the queens in terms of hydration.
Grapefruit: Grapefruits are 90.5 percent water and can help lower cholesterol and increase weight loss. Apparently, compounds in the fruit promote burning fat and stabilizing blood sugar, which can give you the motivation you need to turn down that extra serving of guacamole and chips.
Whether you love exotic fruit or prefer the berries you grew up eating, fruit is an easy, delicious way to get plenty of (hydrating) bang for your (edible) buck.
Now that fall weather is starting to hit the U.S., you may be craving something warm and cozy at the end of the day. Luckily for you, soup is as hydrating as it is tasty. Not only does soup offer plenty of broth, but it also contains salt, which promotes water retention in the body.
If you’re buying pre-made soup, reach for broth-based versions. Making your own soup from scratch, though, is an even better way to guarantee maximum hydration. Just like with juices and smoothies, use your favorite water-packed vegetables. Some of ENTITY’s favorites? Zucchini, radish and celery; add your own herbs, and you’ll be too busy slurping to realize you’re hydrating yourself at the same time.
READ MORE: 5 Tips to Make Dinner Quick and Easy
The next time you feel dehydrated or your city gets hit by a heat wave, don’t just reach for a bottle of water. Instead, experiment with these tasty alternatives to stay healthy and hydrated.
